Vehicle wheel



. ept. H, 1923. IZAfiT'MU I L. l. THOMPSON VEHICLE WHEEL Filed April 221921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. E 1, E923. L. I. THOMPSON VEHICLE WHEELFiled A ril 22 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

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LEWIS ravrnnrnoiurson, or PORTLAND, on-neoiv.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

To all whomz'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS IRVINE THOMPSON, a citizen of the residing atvPortland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle 'Wheels, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

Thisinvention relates tovehicle-wheels of the type in which the spokesor other weight-sustaining membersbetween the hub.

and felly are arranged-in opposite bracing relation on each side andmaintained under tension. 1 i I It is an object generally to improvethat type of wheel, and particularly to provide therein eflicient,comparatively simple, and easily-operable means for adjustingsimulta-neously the tension of theweight-sustain ing members at the huband torealign: the parts when they have become displaced in SeI'VlCe.

The invention is applicable not only to' wheels having spokes, but alsoto those whose weight-sustaining members are of disk form.

When considered in connection with the description herein, thecharacteristics of the 0 invention will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein are disclosed, forpurposes of illustration, weight-sustaining elements of. lattice form,each of which elements consists of tangentially-disposed spoke membersproduced integrally from a single piece of sheet metal. 1

Although the disclosures herein exemplify whatnowis considered to be apreferable embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that itis not the intention to be limited necessarily thereto in interpretationof the claims, as modifications and adaptationswithin the limits of theclaims can be made without departing from thenature of the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views ofthe drawings, of which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the wheel;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the hub';

Fig. 3 is a side viewof the hub,

Fig. 4 is a diametrical section of the wheel; 1'

United States,

f1? Application filed April 22, 1921. Serial No. 463,502.

on the inner annular end of a hub 12.

The hub is formed in the opposite end portion with radially andlongitudinally disposed guideways 13, which are uniformly spaced and ofequalsize and open to the periphery and outer end of the hub.

Key portions 1 1 ofa tension member" 15 fit snugly in and are movableaxially inthe guideways 13. The tension member thus is splined on thehub, and it is fitted thereon with just suiiicient clearance as willpermit it to betilted from its normal plane pers pendicular to the axisof the hub. The tension member has an annulus 16, to the outer side ofwhich is connected the outer-weightsustaining member or members 9 bybolts, machinescrews, or other suitable fasteners 17.

Theouter terminal portion of the hub is of smaller size than theadjacent part there of containing the guideways 13, and on that terminalportion is an annular member 18, which is positioned against the largerend of the: hub, that end constituting an abutment for the member 18.

Independently-rotatable draw members 19, preferably in the form ofbolts, extend through the member or ring 18 with their heads against theouter side thereof and with their threaded shanks extending intothreaded seats in thekey portions of the tension member. 1

The arrangement of the parts is such that, when the draw members 19 arerotated, the tension member 15 is moved axially ofthe hub and thetension ofthe weight-sustaining members increased or deof tension istorbe effected in a wheel that is alined 'or true, the tension memberduring axlal movement 1s maintained 1n its,

normal plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hub. It,however, it is necessary to realign the wheel 'atter parts have becomedisplaced trom normal, "or it tor any other reason it is desired tothrow the weight-sustaining members into uneven tension, the drawmembers may be given more rotation at one place than at another, so thatthe tension member is tilted trom normal position to an extentsufficient to accomplish the purpose desired.

As the heads of the draw members are accessible at an end ot the hub,adjustment or variance of tension or alignment may beeitected easilywith-out removal ot the Wheel from the axle orremoval ot'part's'ot thewheel.

The invention is exemplified herein" in association with load-sustainingmembers of with said telly.

- member,

lattice torm 'produced iby stamping "out of sheet-metal stock ofsuitable thickness 1 and strength and possessing'the quality of givorbending to an extent sufficient to movable tension member splinedthereon,

an annular member on the hub, draw members independently rotatable insaid annular member arranged to adjust said tension member axially, atelly, a weight-sustaining member connected with said telly'and tensionand another weight-sustaining member connected at another place on saidhub and with said telly.

2. A wheel comprising a hub having longitudinal guideways therein opento one end, an axially-movable tension member having key portionsdisposed in said guideways, an annular member at the open ends of saidguideways, draw members independently rotatable in said annular memberarranged to adjust said tension member axially, a telly, a weightsustaining member connected with said telly and tension member, andanother weight-sustaining member connected at another place on said huband 3. A wheel having a hub having an end abutment and longitudinalguideways open at their ends to the outer side of said abutment, anaxially-movable tension member having key-portions disposed in saidguideways, an annular member against said abutment, draw membersindependently rotatable weight-sustaining member connected at anotherplace on said hub and with said telly.

4. A wheel comprising a hub, an axiallymovab-le tension member splinedthereon having threaded seats, an annular member on the hub, boltsrotatable in said annular member having threaded shanks disposed in saidseats arranged to adjust said tension member axially, a telly. aweight-sustaining member connected with said telly and tension member,and another weight-sustaining member connected at another place on saidhuband't'o said telly.

5. A wheel comprising-"a hub havinga r'educed end portion andlongitudinal guideways in the larger portion thereot,=an axially-movabletension :member having key portions disposed in said guideways andhaving also threaded seats, an annular member on the reduced end of thehub seated against the wall ot-the larger portionthereof, boltsrotatable in said annular member having threaded shanks disposed in saidseats arranged to adjust said tension mem ber axially, a telly, aweight-sustaining member connected with said telly and tension member,and another weight-sustaining member connected at another place on saidhub and withsaid telly.

6. A wheel comprising a hub, an axiallymovable tension member splinedthereon having an annulus, an annular member on said hub, draw membersindependently rotatable in said annularmember arranged to adjust saidtension member axially, a telly, a weight-sustaining member connectedwith said telly and annulus, and another weightsustaining .memberconnected at another place on said hub and with said telly.

7. A wheel comprising a hub having an end abutment and longitudinalguideways open at their ends to the outer side of said abutment, anaxially-movable tension member having key portions disposed in saidguide ways and threaded seats an'dan annulus, an annular member againstsaid abutment, bolts rotatable in said annular member having threadedshanks disposed in said seats arranged to adjust said tension memberaxially, a telly, a weight-sustaining member connected with said tellyand arr nulus, and another weight-sustaining member connected at anotherplace on said hub and with said telly.

8. A wheel comprising a hub, an axiallymovable and tiltable tensionmember splined thereon, an annular member on said hub, draw membersindependently rotatable Bin said annular member arranged to adjust saidtension member both axially and tiltably, a felly, a Weight-sustainingmember connected with said felly and tension mem her, and anotherweight-sustaining member connected at another place on said hub and Withsaid telly.

9. In a wheel, a hub having a fixed abutment, an annular tension memberaxially movable on said hub and having threaded openings, a plurality ofheaded members rotatably mounted in said abutment and having threadedshanks in engagement With the openings of said tension member whereby tomove said latter member axially, a felly, a weight-sustaining memberconnected with said felly and tension member, and anotherweight-sustaining member connected at another place on said hub and tosaid felly.

10. In a wheel, a hub, an axially-movable tension member thereon havingthreaded openings, a plurality of headed members rotatably mounted onsaid hub and having threaded shanks in engagement with the openings insaid tension member whereby to move the latter member axially, a felly,a weight-sustaining member connected with said felly and tenslon member,and another weight-sustaining member connected at another place on saidhub and to said felly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEWIS IRVINE THOMPSON.

